Jay's dilemma over pitching choices amid Bieber's health recovery
Toronto Blue Jays Rotation Shuffle with Shane Bieber's Debut
The Toronto Blue Jays are making adjustments to their starting rotation, with the highly-anticipated return of Shane Bieber set to make his debut for the team.
According to a report by The Canadian Press, published on August 17, 2025, John Schneider, the Blue Jays' manager, has suggested that extra rest could be beneficial for Jose Berrios, but winning every game is of utmost importance. This comes after Berrios' recent outing against the Rangers, where he lasted only 4 1/3 innings, allowing six runs on 10 hits with two strikeouts.
Despite this, Schneider still has faith in Berrios, citing his consistency. However, the Blue Jays' existing starting rotation, comprising Max Scherzer, Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman, Berrios, and Robbie Lauer, are all 30 or older.
In a positive note, George Springer, who was sidelined for 15 games, has been getting a lot of reps in during his absence and has been doing well this year. He returned to the lineup in his second outing since his absence and belted a two-run homer in the eighth inning.
The Blue Jays have scheduled Gausman, Scherzer, and Bassitt to pitch against the Pirates on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, respectively. Berrios' next start is expected to be after the team's off day on Thursday, before beginning a series in Miami against the Marlins.
Meanwhile, Bieber, who had six days off between his rehab starts, made his debut for the Blue Jays on August 22, 2025, pitching against the Miami Marlins. In that game, he pitched six strong innings, striking out nine batters, allowing only two hits and one run, and issuing no walks. This marked his first MLB game since April 2, 2024, following Tommy John surgery.
Bieber's debut was historically notable as he became the first pitcher in Blue Jays history to strike out nine or more while giving up two or fewer hits with no walks in a debut. His next starts were expected to be against the Brewers at home at the end of August and then against the Yankees in early September.
With the Blue Jays continuing to lead the American League East by five games over the Boston Red Sox with six weeks remaining, the team is looking to solidify their rotation to maintain their lead and make a strong push towards the playoffs.
[1] [Source for Bieber's next starts] [2] [Source for Bieber's debut details] [3] [Source for Berrios' struggles] [4] [Source for Springer's return and performance] [5] [Source for the Blue Jays' current standings]
Participating in a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Toronto Blue Jays' starting rotation struggled to maintain ideal health, with Jose Berrios experiencing a less-than-stellar performance. Meanwhile, the arrival of Shane Bieber – making his debut for the team – marked a significant boost for the team's health and sports success, as he demonstrated remarkable pitching skills in his first MLB appearance since his Tommy John surgery.
